Bird & Sunrise photo

Bird & Sunrise photo
Because "someday" is today!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

It's All In The Details

Sometimes I just felt I couldn't take in the whole effect of some of the ancient city ruins we went to. When I realized this, I set a new goal for myself, namely "focus on the details". I wasn't sure how this would play out, but eventually I began to recognize patterns and could get very excited when I found something new.

The cities that had a lot of Roman and Greek influence: Ephesus, Hierapolis, Pergamon and Patara had similiar column styles, square details from the ceilings, the human figure carved in a certain way. I photographed any detail that caught my eye.
Colonnade to Asklepion, Pergamon Turkey
I found the carving detail along this "sacred way".

Asklepion columns, Pergamon, Turkey
Entrance to the library.

Asklepion carving, Pergamon, Turkey
detail from an arch.


One morning when we were seeing Asklepion, the ancient medical center, which is just outside Pergamon, I saw a pattern I hadn't noticed before. I got a photo and moved on. Later that day, we were at the "Red Basilica", which didn't look like much at first since the marble covering was long gone and only the red brick core still stands. There were mostly only marble pieces left, but as I was looking, I realized some of these "details" looked very Egyptian, and the detail on the dress of one of the figures was the same as the detail I had seen earlier at Asklepion! What was going on?
The Red Basilica, Pergamon, Turkey
Marble fragments in the foreground.

Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, dress carved in marble, Red Basilica- Pergamon, Turkey
lower half, back view of her dress.

Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, top half of dress, carved in marble. Red Basilica-Pergamon, Turkey
Top half, with dress bodice.

Egyptian style sculpture. Goddess Sekhmet. Detail carved on dress in marble. Red Basilica-Pergamon, Turkey
detail on the dress


We found a plaque that explained that the name "Red Basilica" was a bit misleading. It had originally been built as a second century AD temple to the trinity of Egyptian gods: Serapis, Harpokrates, and Isis. It had been converted into a basilica by the Byzantines. It was one of the seven churches addressed by St. John in the Book of Revelation. He referred to it as home of the "throne of the devil", perhaps he was referring to the Egyptian cult that still had it's followers! We had no idea. I was thrilled to see a little piece of design that had found it's way through time. Does anyone else see how this design has surfaced in our day? Maybe it is just me... tell me what you see.

Jeff's corner: Jeff is headed for New York, but if he has any comments I will post them.

1 comment:

Bath Oil said...

Brilliant post! I'm fascinated by greek and roman architecture. That's why i'm going to Rhodes this summer